~Chapter Twenty~ The Elder Wand

                                    

                                          
Gellert ran into the post office and selected an international owl. She hooted indignantly as she was removed from her perch and handed over for Gellert to attach his message. It was no more than a scrap of paper, written in haste, he needed nothing more than three words: I have it.
                          
*****
                          
Gellert sat in a village square, a half-eaten soup on the table in front of him. His eyes never looked down at his meal, too much was happening in the street. Strangers ferreted through the narrow walkways, their wands barely concealed beneath their sleeves. A shriek sent shivers up his spine as they scurried to darker corners.
                          
"Not the brightest bulbs in the box, they lack your knack for subtlety." Mr Delaney held out his hand.
                          
Gellert tore his eyes away from the drama. "I'm sorry,"
                          
"Seems like I should apologise, you were deep in thought."
                          
"It wasn't anything important, moping mostly, a friend of mine has declined to reply to my last message and I had intended to take the next steps with him by my side." Gellert sighed and subconsciously glanced at his pocket watch.
                          
"That is a shame, I am sure you have got some genius idea brewing."
                          
"Many." Gellert vanished the last of his soup so as not to insult the chef. "I must ask you, Mr Delaney..."
                          
"Marcus," He interrupted.
                          
"Marcus, I must ask you why is my cause so important to you?"
                          
"Like I said last time, I want my children to be able to practice their magic freely."
                          
"Is that all? Doesn't seem like a powerful enough motive for someone to chase me all over Europe." Gellert watched the fear flicker in Marcus' eyes. "I saw you."
                          
"Fine, I'll come clean. I don't have any children." The man panted and wiped the sweat from his brow. "I was born of a muggle couple, they had no idea magic existed, and so reacted with fear. Eventually, when they realised I couldn't be cured by the church they threw me away." 
                          
"I see."
                          
Marcus breathed a sigh of relief at not having to list off all the abuses he suffered at the hands of ill-informed muggles. 
                          
"Muggles can be ruthless, whatever you have witnessed pales in comparison to the things they are going to do. Blood will turn the continent crimson. Half of a generation lost to nothing more than a childish squabble for control."
                          
"How can you be so sure?"
                          
"Is it not already brewing? Are the countries of the continent not already playing tit-for-tat politics?"
                          
Marcus mulled it over, his fingers knotting in his short beard. He nodded, not wanting to commit to words.
                          
"I can show you what I have seen if you need convincing," Gelert said confidently.
                          
"Not here. Too many eyes and ears." Marcus scratched his patchy beard, "I have gathered some loyal ears and wands should you need them."
                          
"You have been busy."
                          
"I can sense this is a movement I want to be with, things are going to change, and I want to be a part of it."
                          
The shouting and screaming intensified, making Gellert recoil. He rose from the table and followed Marcus to the edge of town. Their quickened pace getting a few anxious eyes as the ruckus became a free-for-all at the main entrance to the street. 
                          
"They've added anti-apparition charms to towns, forcing people to register for the floo-network or go through the rigmarole of the checkpoints." Marcus pointed Gellert down a quieter street. "People won't stand for the dictatorship, not all can afford the powder." He turned left and pushed through the veil into the muggle side of town.